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Lewis and Clark Conducts First-Ever Underway Replenishment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061220-02
Release Date: 12/20/2006 8:38:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Mark A. Catalano, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs

ABOARD USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (NNS) -- USNS Lewis and Clark (T-AKE 1) conducted its first-ever underway replenishment (UNREP) Dec. 15-16 as part of Operation Evaluation Event No. 1 alongside the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71).

Lewis and Clark is the first ship in a new class of dry cargo/ammunition ships.

"This new class will allow for the retirement of the ammo and dry cargo ships,” said Lewis and Clark Ship’s Master, Capt. Randall Rockwood. “This class will replace three different ones.”

First launched May 21, 2005, and delivered to the fleet June 20, 2005, Lewis and Clark is a new Combat Logistics Force (CLF) underway replenishment vessel that will replace the current capability of the Kilauea-class (AE) ammunition ship, and the Mars-class (AFS), Saturn and Spica-class (AFS) combat stores ships.

“This ship is designed to carry 63 percent of what the AE and the AFS can carry, plus 100 percent of the refrigerated stores,” Rockwood said. “Or it can carry more than 100 percent of just ammo or stores plus the refrigerated stores. She also has the ability to give one million gallons of fuel while not taking away from her own fuel, even though she is not an oiler.”

Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo/ammo ships will also have the capability of transferring up to 50,000 gallons of potable water, Rockwood said.

The successful UNREP training evolution completed the first of 14 phases of training for Lewis and Clark. This event assessed Lewis and Clark’s ability to conduct an UNREP and vertical replenishment (VERTREP) simultaneously, Rockwood said.

“Normally a ship of this kind supports the carriers,” said Rockwood. “In this training scenario, TR’s role was to support Lewis and Clark. TR helped validate an operational order so the two dozen or so people we have aboard evaluating could validate that the ship could give stores and ammo to an aircraft carrier.”

While TR supported Lewis and Clark during the UNREP, it conducted some training of its own.

“We’re spending a lot of time training new people at the different UNREP stations,” said Chief Boatswain’s Mate (SW) Welton F. Grooms, of TR’s Deck Department. “Safety is the first thing we consider. Then we worry about lining up the stations. In this particular evolution, we had to ensure our stations were lined up with the stations on Lewis and Clark, and take note of everything. This way, we can share the notes we take on this particular class of ship with other carriers in the fleet.”

TR’s Weapons Department took advantage of the VERTREP, training its new Sailors and keeping the other, more experienced Sailors qualified.

“Although this training evolution was meant for Lewis and Clark,” said TR Ordnance Handling Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Santiago Ortiz. “The vertical replenishment aspect of their training was a blessing in disguise because it gave us an opportunity to train for the big ammo-offload early next year.”

The new T-AKE program will consist of 11 ships. A second, USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2) is under construction, and six more have been ordered by the Navy.

The T-AKE will directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain a forward presence. Lewis and Clark’s primary mission will be delivering supplies to Navy ships from sources of supply like friendly ports, or from sea using specially-equipped merchant ships.

The ships will be operated by Military Sealift Command (MSC) with about 120 civilian mariners, augmented by an active duty Navy detachment of approximately 50 Sailors.

This phase of training is part of the Post Test and Trials Delivery, which started June 20 when the ship was delivered to the MSC, and will continue through May 2007 when the ship is scheduled to be certified operational.

“We all appreciate the TR’s help today,” Rockwood said. “It’s difficult to be motivated to do something that is artificial. TR didn’t receive anything that she needed. She was just there to ensure we could do our job and complete the evolution. For that, we truly appreciate their time and effort.”